The remains were eventually sent to a search and recovery center in Thailand before being forwarded to the Army's central identification lab in Hawaii. But perhaps Im speaking out of turn. And you didnt mention the shoes the specially designed shoes the sentries wear are pretty cool. Also pictured is sister Judy Cozad (left). To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. They were returned them home for a military burial. The ARVN turned the remains and the other crash site items over to Captain William C. Parnell, who was then serving as an operations officer at An Loc. But it doesnt make it right that we interred a known soldier, she added. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Michael Joseph Blassie (April 4, 1948 May 11, 1972) was a United States Air Force officer who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in May 1972. It was so exciting," she says. The Pentagon had kept them in the dark, probably with the good intention of not getting the familys hopes up until Michaels identity could be confirmed. Jean Blassie holds a photo of her son Michael Blassie while seated in the living room of her apartment in Florissant, on May 2, 1998. He died in 1991. I think I know where Michael is, he said, producing a paper trail that led to Arlington Cemetery. Today, there is no body representing Vietnam at the tomb of the unknowns. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. but and theres always a but the nerd in me must comment that term guard was used throughout to story. After petitioning the United States Government for permission, his family had his body exhumed. Those who fell in the Vietnam War would thereby be honored alongside the three other Unknowns from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. The Blassie family watches as their family member Michael, is unloaded from a C-130 Hercules cargo plane, July 10. Please enter valid email address to continue. She said then-President Ronald Reagan had wanted to add a Vietnam War soldier to the Tomb of the Unknowns, joining the unknown soldiers from World War I and II and the Korean War. . Helton, L.M. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Western reporters called it a mini-Stalingrad, the ugliest kind of siege warfare. His remains were finally brought home aboard a C-130 cargo plane Friday in a solemn service befitting a pilot killed in the line of duty in Vietnam. We have set your language to Based on mitochondrial DNA testing . They were completely cut off from the rest of the world. A neighbor came over to get me, saying, Pat, you need to go inside. So I did and knew something was horribly wrong. & Spitz, D.J. On July 10, 1998, Michael Blassie's body was released to his family. Many thanks for such a great show, this episode and all the others~ All Rights Reserved. "My father, who served in Normandy during World War II, never got over losing Michael," says Patricia Blassie, who was 13 years old when her brother, the oldest of five siblings, died. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Blassie was buried Saturday with full military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. DNA identification had yet to advance to its current state when Blassie's remains were repatriated, and he lay in the Tomb of the Unknowns up to 1998, with visitors paying respects but unaware of his identity. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? The pressures of war put a premium on closing cases and moving on, getting the job done even if that meant rushing lab reports. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Think you're a Top Gun at aircraft identification? Whatever the case, other aircraft were dispatched to the area to provide cover for an Army chopper rescue team, all for naught. On Friday, Family and friends gathered to welcome his return at Scott Air Force Base, near Blassie's hometown of Florissant, Mo., a St. Louis suburb. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Even the thought that remains had been discovered near the crash site seemed preposterous. Sampley had come across some second-hand accounts suggesting that Americas only set of unknown remains from Vietnam had been recovered from an aircraft that had been shot down in 1972. After 26 years, the family of Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie, buried the pilot Saturday, ending a painful mystery that began in 1972. They denied it. A funeral Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. today at Rose Philippine Duchesne Church, 2560 Parker Road, Florissant. A system error has occurred. That day changed the Blassie family forever, she says. The saga of the Vietnam crypt of the Tomb of the Unknown is perhaps the darkest chapter of the US Department of Defenses long-running effort to account for POW/MIAs. An honor guard was fired a 21-gun salute and F-15 Eagle fighters flew overhead in the "missing man" formation as Blassie was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis in a ceremony presided over by the eldest sibling, Pat Blassie, a captain in the Air Force Reserve. Michael Blassie received an appointment to the Air Force and fell in love with flying immediately. Its just an outsiders way of honoring all of your sacrifices. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. See http://www.virtualwall.org/db/BlassieMJ01a.htm read more At 67, Mrs. Blassie went back to work as a sales clerk at Dillards. The remains were confirmed to be those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie. "He and. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Michael Joseph Blassie (1948 - 1972) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days How do we create a person's profile? This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. He told her that he had been researching who was shot down on the date of Michaels death and he believed that her brothers remains were in the Tomb of the Unknowns. Air Force jets fly over Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery during the burial of Lt. Michael Blassie, July 11. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Patricia was 13 years old when the Air Force chaplain knocked on their door to deliver the news of Michaels death. Those vacuum-sealed samples now number some 8 million, sitting ready for a self-reference analysis in case of battlefield death. I find meaning in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Joseph Michael Leo Findlan (Amelia, Ohio), who passed away on February 24, 2022, at the age of 71, leaving to mourn family and friends. I signed up the next day. #inline-recirc-item--id-91b39784-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Post-Dispatch file photo, Workers cover the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on May 13, 1998, in anticipation of the exhumation of the remains of the Vietnam unknown. Over a quarter million people lined the route to Arlington National Cemetery. William S. Cohen, U.S. Secretary of Defense, 1998. "He's still serving today because he now represents those that need to come home," she said. I didnt have any direction, and the family was lower-middle income. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Sorry! For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. The test results showed a match with DNA samples from Jean Blassie and her oldest daughter. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. I didnt even know how to go about college. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. I thought this is the best example of internet conspiracy garbage Ive seen to date, says Vince Gonzales, a reporter for CBS Denver who came across the story three years later in 1997. Add to your scrapbook. It has been watched over day and night since 1937 by a lone guard, forever marching back and forth in front of the tomb. In 1984, on Memorial Day, Blassie's remains - four ribs, pelvis and the upper part of an arm - were buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington. You have permission to edit this article. Prior to the identification of his remains, Blassie was the unknown service member from the Vietnam War buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. United States Air Force Vietnam Veteran. Your playlist is stored within your cookies, clearing your browser data may remove your playlist. Michael, after all, was her first born. Silver StarDistinguished Flying CrossPurple HeartAir Medal & 4 Oak Leaf Clusters (OLC)Killed In Action, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. This is especially true for people like me that have no familial association with the military. It can represent all soldiers. Over the next month, enemy forces cinched the noose, pounding the city with artillery and attempting to starve out the population. GREAT NEWS! Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The remains were reclassified as unknown when their projected age and height were judged not to match Blassie's.[1]. In January 1998, CBS Evening News broke the story: The military had hidden pilot Michael Blassies identity from his family and the public. The chain of custody began with Captain William C. Parnell, an operations officer at An Lc. They detailed that Michael Blassies remains had been recovered in Vietnam and that the person who recovered them was Chris Calhoon. "We were all so proud of him. Try again later. During my only visit to the Tomb of the Unknowns, during the changing of the guard, I witnessed what may be a rare event. To many Vietnam veterans, Patricia explains, it was pretty upsetting to have the Vietnam Unknown disinterred. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. (2006): Identification of Human Remains. The unknowns from World War I and World War II are another story for now, but anything is possible. Thanks Dennis! Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA. Learn more about merges. well, that was simply too much to believe. Photo by Erik M. Lunsford elunsford@post-dispatch.com. I thought, What is that? I went into the backyard and waited, I mean, everything seemed so strange. Producer Joe Rosenberg spoke with Robert Poole, author of On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery; Patricia Blassie; Bill Thomas, reporter for the Washington Post; Chris Calhoon, former Army Ranger; Vince Gonzales, reporter for CBS Denver, During the last segment of your podcast, Roman asked Joe if there were any other national monuments that had a guard like this. They were a match and Michael Blassies remains were returned to his family. St. Louis native Michael Blassie was the picture of an ideal young Air Force officer: tall, handsome, with a hospitable grin and approachable demeanor. The Vietnam unknown was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors, beneath the headstone that reads, "Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God." US air power was used extensively in defense of the city and five aircraft were lost that day: A-37B-1st Lt Michael J Blassie, 8th SOS, O-2A-Capt, Barry K Allmond, 21st TASS, O-2A, 1st Lt John H Haselton, 21st TASS, AH-1G Cpt . DNA tests determined that the remains in the tomb were those of Blassie. Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect Part 2: DNA. President Ronald Reagan bestowed the Medal of Honor upon the Vietnam unknown. The Flag: Revd David Railton MC and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, Excerpts and links to latest episodes and articles, Periodic, exclusive updates on 99PI goings-on. "We write no last chapters, we close no books," Reagan said. Required fields are marked *, 99% Invisible There are no volunteers for this cemetery. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}. Hundreds, including Secretary of Defense William Cohen and House minority leader Richard Gephardt, attended the ceremony. Blassie was then listed as "killed in action, no body recoverd." It was his 138th combat mission. Webb devised an ingenious solution: hide the crash-site artifacts where no one would ever find them, in the casket with the remains of X-26. Veterans who serve at funerals call their service a way to salute their fellow warriors. Michael Blassie The Final Mission. } Mourners are grateful for their extra effort. On July 11, 1998, 1st Lt. Michael Blassie was buried with full military honors in Jefferson National Cemetery, Missouri, near his hometown, in the same cemetery as his father. It wasnt until World War I that it occurred to anyone to bury a single unknown soldier in a public setting. Mourners included military personnel, veterans and civilians. Dubbed the super-tweet it was designed to fly low over its target. . The aircraft went down in flames. In 1998 the Tomb of the Unknown was . Your email address will not be published. But in 1956, one small, seemingly innocent change to the formula of the Unknown would prove problematic: we began to add another set of unidentified remains for every subsequent war. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on . They said Michael had been killed. Tony. Prior to the identification of his remains, Blassie was the unknown service member . Michael Blassies squadron was providing that air support over An Loc. (AP Photo/James A. Finley), Pat Blassie (second from left) points out to her mother Jean Blassie (third from left) and her sister Mary Hart (right) the C-130 Hercules plane as it arrives at Scott Air Force Base with their brother Michael Blassie's remains. Whatever was known about the remains of the Vietnam Unknown had never been revealed. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Michael Blassie (4245)? Michael Blassies skeletal chart, VBC Happy Hour screenshot, 2021. The Medal of Honor bestowed upon him as the Vietnam Unknown was not transferred to Blassie after his remains were identified. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have hallowed it far above our poor power to add or detract.". Based on mitochondrial DNA testing, Department of Defense scientists were able to identify Blassie's remains. Scientists at CIL-HI estimated the deceaseds age to be between 26-33 years and height between 65.2-71.5 inches. Another perspective on this issue is that all soldiers are unknown. The date, location of the crash, bone fragments from the body and remnants of his flight suit and parachute led to the conclusion that it was Michael. Love each and every podcast . Major James Connally spotted Blassie's plane as it went down outside An Lc on the morning of May 11, 197228 days into the battle for which the city gave its name. In May 1998, the remains were disinterred for mitochondrial DNA "fingerprinting." Flying at a low altitude to drop napalm, he would have been propelled into the ground. Updated: June 21, 2016 . I never dreamed Id never see Michael again., The Blassie siblings, 1961. Michael Blassies C-37 Dragonfly was part of that defense flying support for allied South Vietnamese ground units. Human beings have copies of DNA from each biological parent, stored in the nucleus of every cell. Please enter your email and password to sign in. The remains were then sent to Travis Air Force Base on May 24 and arrived at Andrews Air Force Base the following day. Immediate recovery attempts were launched, but Blassie had crashed in an area controlled by enemy forces so it was impossible to examine the crash site. Patricia still visits the tomb. Defense Secretary William Cohen announced that the remains would be disinterred and the DNA tested. The next morning, he handed the package to a helicopter crew, which delivered it to the Saigon Mortuary. Many Vietnam veterans, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan visited Blassie as he lay in state in the U.S. Capitol. After nearly two decades of uncertainty, the family of Blassie can finally reveal the empty crypt in which the men and women who served in Vietnam were buried, as well as the flag that was once flown over it. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. (AP Photo/Brian K. Diggs), In thisJune, 30, 1998, photo,Joan Blassie, right, the mother of the Michael Blassie reacts to the news that the remains in the Tomb of Unknowns were confirmed by DNA testing as belonging to her son Lt. Michael Blassie, who was shot down over Vietnam. Revealing the Unknown: The Mystery of Michael Blassie | Missouri Historical Society 1st Lt. Michael Blassie was killed in action during the Vietnam War, but his remains were unrecovered because the fighting was so intense in the area where his plane crashed. Patricia was proud also when he headed off to Vietnam six years later. He must have been killed instantly since he did not transmit a distress call of any kind. Prior to the identification of his remains, Blassie was the unknown service member from the Vietnam War buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. That single set of remains was known only as X-26, but his actual name was Michael Blassie. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid The city of An Loc was totally leveled it looked like Hiroshima, says Chris Calhoon who was stationed there as an Army Ranger. Given the advance of DNA technology, there may never be another US Unknown. The name he read on the ID card was Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie. In order for the X-26 remains to be interred in the Tomb of the Unknown, Webb had to sign a statement confirming that they would never be identified. Try again. Become a member of the Veterans Breakfast Club for only $36/year! It was around this time that David Railton came across a temporary grave, a few miles behind the front, marked only by a cross bearing the name of a regiment and the words: An unknown British soldier.. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. France, Romania, Italy everybody at the same time jumped on this idea. The accompanying shells found their mark. Instead of moving Michaels remains to the burial ground at Arlington, the family decided to have Michael re-interred at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery along the Mississippi River just south of the city. If they had, they might have hung up on him. 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michael joseph blassie family